Motion-picture apparatus.



' 1. F. DAVIDSON. MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS. APPIJCATIOITILED OCT. H. I914.

Patented Apia-3; 1917' a spams-gnu 1.

- N A I'M! A INVENTOR HTORNEYS 1-, F. DAVIDSON. V mono" PICTURE APPARATUS.

I APPLICATIONFILED OCT '4, SIM 1,221,515. Patented Apr. 3,1917.

I 5 SHEETS-SHEET Z ,4 TTOR YS WITNESSES APFLI CATIOI FILED OCT. H, "H.

1. F. ngvmsuuff MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS.

WITNESSES Anon/ m Mama Apr. 3,1917.

Mains-mint a.

1. F. DAVIDSON.

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATlON FILED ocT. 14. m4.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

6 SHEETS -SHEET 5.

WITNESSES V IN VE/V TOR I. F. DAVIDSON.

MOTION PICTURE APPARATUS.

APPLICATIQN FILED on. 14. 914. 1,221,51 5. Patented Apr. 3,1917.

' 6 SHEETS-SH i F1? 40 .the strip is held rigorously stationary, rela- UNITED sTA'rEs PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES F. DAVIDSON, OF HARLOW, OKLAHOMA.

Morrow-Plowman Afsranarus.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 3, 1917.

Application filed October 14, 1914. Serial No. 866,651.

To all whomitt may concern:

Be it known that 1, JAMES F. Davmson, a

citizen of. theUnited States, and a resident cation.

This invention relates to motion picture apparatus,

An object of the present invention is to provide novel means for intermittently advancing the sensitized picture strip through.

the optical field of the appai atus and maintaining the same stationary for a definite interval prior to each advancement, the

mechanism in question being equally adapted for motion picture cameras or pro]ecting apparatus.

A further object is to provide novel means whereby a spring motor will intermittently advance the picture strip through the optical field of a motion picture apparatus, said means being adapted to hold the strip rigorously stationary intermediate the successive periods of advancement. The means further includes a manually operated re-.

leasemechanism which is connected and operated by feeding and take-up rollers which direct the picture strip to and from the optical field.

A further object is to provide anovel form of release mechanism for use in connection with motion picture machines, which although being of simple design is adapted to operate at a speed requisite for the proper pro3ection of motion pictures and to per- .form each advancement of the strip in 'a sharp and conciseimanner with the interval between advancements, during which time proceeds, the invention resides in the com-' bination and arrangements-of parts, and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, canbe made Within the scopeof which is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention.

Fig.' 2 is a cross sectional vieiv of the foregoing taken upon the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, Fig. 3 is a detail view in cross section taken on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a diagrammatic view illustrating the course of the picture strip through the apparatus and also depicting the steel tape by means of which the film take-up reel is rotated and the film subsequently rewound after the completion of the picture projection, u

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary detail view of the releasing mechanism whereby the spring motor intermittently advances the picturestrip through the optical field,

Fig. 6 is a view in side section of a somewhat modified form of apparatus, the modification'being largely confined to and embodied in the spring motor releasing mechanism, the plane section being represented by the line 6-.6 in Fig. 7

Fig. 7 is'a cross sectional view taken on the line 7-7 ofFig. 6,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6, the section, however, being taken along. the line 8-8 of Fig. 7 and through the fihn receiving compartment of the apparatus ratherthan through the compartment in which the 'mechanism is contained-as per Fig. 6,

Fig. 9 is a detail view in front elevation of the means whereby the film is held against the feeding and discharge sprockets, providing for slight loops within the film, as illustrated in Fig. 8, j

Fig. 10 is a detail view in section of the modified form of spring motor releasing or controlling mechanism,

Figs. 11, 12 and 13 are diagrammatic views illustrating the successive positions of the film advancing mechanism throughout a single cycle of operation,

'Fig. 14 is a view in longitudinal section of the shaft upon which the spring motor film take-up and steel tape reels are mounted,

Fig. 14 is a view taken on the line a-a Fig. 15 is a detail view of the shutter.

lar reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views, the

projecting apparatus includes a receptacle I or casing in which is positioned the longitudinally extending vertical partition 16 defining the film compartment 17 and rear film actuating mechanism compartment 18..

A housing 19'is'mountedupon the top of the receptacle and is detachably held thereto by set screws 20 or allied means allowing it to be conveniently removed and rendering the apparatus conveniently portable should the action arise which would so warrant.

A shaft 22 4 (see Fig. 14) extends through the compartments of the receptacle 15 and is provided with the free square end 22 upon which the film receiving reel 21 is slidably mounted and constrained to move therewith. The receptacle is provided with a door 24 which when opened exposes the free end 22 of the shaft and allows the takeup or film receiving reel to be quickly detached or replaced thereupon. -The film take-up reel is located within the film com-j partment 17 whereas a second reel 25 is fixedly secured to the shaft 22 by the friction clutch C. The said friction clutch includes a drum 0 rigidly secured to the shaft by the setscrew 0 One wall of the reel 25 (see Fig. 14) is provided with the spaced ears 0 through which the sliding bolt 0 extends, the same being provided with the friction shoes 0 engaging the drum 0. The

bolts are provided with the springs c which contact with the nuts 0' to adjust the friction between the shaft 22 and reel 25. In order to, positively lock the drum and reel against rotation in one direction the ratchet c is provided formed integral with the drum 0 and coacting with which is the paratus of the present class.

spring pressed pawl 0* carried by the reel.

Mounted within the housing 19 and in vertical alinement with the reels 2125 are the film supplying and steel tape receiving reels 27 and 29 (see Fig. 2). A shaft 28 is pro-v vided within the housing upon which the reels are mounted. The film supplying reel 27 is removably secured thereto, the shaft 28 being provided with a square arbor to re ceive the reel 27, the latter therefore being rigidly secured to the shaft as far as. rotation is concerned while the steel tape receiving reel 29 is rotatably mounted on the shaft 28 and elfects a uni-directional rotational and frictional engagement therewith by means of the ratchet-friction clutch 30 31 (see Fig. 4) which is similar to the clutch C above described. As will be clearly apparent by referring to Fig. 4, the'steel tape or flexible element 26 is wound upon the tape receiving and supplying reels in a direction opposite to that of the picture strip winding-upon the reels'provided therefor. The unwinding of the picture strip from the film-supplying reel will, through the instru mentality of thesteel tape induce a corre-;

" fed from thefilm supplying reel.

The ratchet and pawlconnection and frictional 1 engagement between the tape winding reel 29' and the film supplying reel 27 allows the film take-up reel 21 to be man ually rotated in order to correct the slight 5 discrepancies met with due to the varying "diameters of the rollsof'film and tape. The

receptacle 15 and the housing 19 are pro- 30 vide d with registering slots 33 (see Fig. 1) through which the picture strip and steel tape pass, there being, suitable rollers 34 guarding the edges of the slots and preventing undue abrasion of the'film and tape 35 which pass therethrough A roller 32 resiliently bears against the steel tape and in connection with the slack loop 32 (see Fig.

4;) within the film and the friction clutches aforementioned further correct and compensate for such discrepancies as met with by the tape drive of the film take up heel 21.

The shaft 22 upon which the film receiving reel is mounted projects through and be yond the side of the receptacld 15 and allows it to be manually rotated in the reverse directionafter the film has been completely wound upon the film receiving reel. This reverse rotation will, by means of the steel tape and reels provided therefor, reversely rotate the tape supplying reel 27 and results in the-rewinding of the film providing for its repeated use. Suitable casings 36 and- 37, provided with slots therein, encompass the film reels and protect the film 0r picture strip wound thereon, as is usual in ap- .42 whibh latter are rigidly afiixed to the sprocket carrying shafts 43. The sprocket wheels 44-which are mounted upon these shafts are positioned within the film compartment 17 and are adapted to continuously feed the picture strip to, and remove it from, the optical field, upon the continuousmanual rotation of the handle 45 with which the shaft 40 is provided and which is located externally of the receptacle.

Coacting with the continuous picture strip moving mechanism is an intermittently advancing device engaging the film and adapted to intermittently move the same across the optical field and hold it rigorously, stationary intermediate each advancement. This device includes the sprocket wheel 46 (see "Figs. 2 and 4) which is located to one side of the refracting prism and operates in connection with the idle sprocket Wheel 47 to hold the picture strip in a flat condition for the proper projection of the image or picture thereon. The sprocket wheel 46 is provided with a ratchet and pawl connection whereby .it is secured to the shaft 47 and with the ratchet and pawl so adjusted that sufficient friction will always be present hindering the slipping of .the pawl. so that when the shaft 47 is driven in a forward direction it ,will carry the sprocket wheel 46 therewith but atthe same time will allow the sprocket wheel 46 to be forcefully reversed when the film is being rewound' 'The gear 48 (see Figs. 1

and 2) meshes witha gear 49 carried by the jack shaft 50, which latter is provided with a second gear 51 meshing with and driven by the gear 52 of a spring motor 53. The forward movement of the sprocket 46; may be insured by providing thesprocket with anadjustable set screw to be tightened when the forward movement is desired and to be loosened when the reverse movement is desired. I

The SP1 ing motor includes a hollow shaft 54 which is journaled so as to rotate'freely the gear 52 by means of the ratchet wheel upon the shaft 22 aforementioned. The

spring of the motor is rigidly connected to this hollow shaft and {is adapted to rotate '54 secured to. the shaft and the pawl 55 .40 continuously rotate the same.

carried by. the motor gear. The hollow spring motor shaft projects out on the shaft 6.22 upon which it,rotates and is with thekey engageable end 56 seerFig. .14) whereby :the motormay be rewound.

rovided The spring motor will accordingly exert a constant force upon the shaft 47 tending to The movements of the shaft 47" are controlled-by an intermittentlyoperating releasing mechanism which includes thcslotted latin cam actuated lever 61 which is procam slot and constrictedto move in accord 'ance with the contour thereof.

An escapement wheel 63 is rigidly secured to the intermittently advanclng sprocket carrying shaft 47 and is provided with the .-.zig-za slot 64 therein, theslot including .space laterally extending portions 65 against which the upper extremity of the camlever 61 is adapted to bear and hold the shaft stationary until such time as the cam lever is moved into the communicating portions of the escapementwheel slot which L allows the sprin motor to quickly and 'frac -tionally rotate t e sprocket wheel 46 for .the

i mittently 'resilient as well as an advancement of the film a distance corre-' sponding to the spacing of the plctures thereon.

The angularity of the communicating portions 66 of the escapement slot may be varied according to the movements of the oscillating cam actuated lever 61, the object being to so time the movements of the sprocket wheel 46 that the intervals between advancements will be relatively great with respect to the time required for the advancing ofthe film. A shutter67 (see Figs. 1, 6 and 15) provided with the adjustable sectors 68 is mounted in front of the lense 38 and is driven from the manually operated gear 41 through theinstrumentality of the spur and beveled gears 69.

The apparatus illustrated in Figs. 6 to 13 inclusive is similar to the foregoing and is, as illustrated in Fig. 6, provided with a counter. 70 whose driving mechanism is so proportioned that the indications thereon will designate the number of feet of the filmwhich has passed through the camera. Re fen-ing particularly to Figs. 8 and 9 it willv be apparent that the feeding and take-up sprocket wheels 44' have the rollers 71 'bearing thereagainst which are carried by the spring pressed frames 72 rotatably jour-' naled. upon the stub shaft 73. The frames include the cross bars 74 againstwhich the leaf spring 75 impinges to thus hold the rollers against the film sprocket wheels. These rollers provide for theslack loop's'7 6 with in the picture strip intermediate the interoperated advancing sprocket wheel 46' and the guide sprocket wheel 47"..

In order to maintain the film in a taut and flat condition while traveling through the optical field the skeleton frame 71 is pivotally secured, as at 78, above the guide sprocket 47' and is securely locked below the intermittently advancing sprocket wheel 46',

" tiy'the locking set screw 7 9, or allied means.

he frame carries the apertured ledges tend and threadedly engage. A film conthrough which the adjusting sleeves 81 ex- V tacting shoe 82 has the plungers 83 extend;

"ing. therefrom and slidably engaging the adjusting sleeve 81 which in connection with the springs 84 provides for -.the resilient extensionor advancement of the contact shoe so :as to bear'against the film and exert a adjustable force thereon.

The intermittently advancing mechanism of this latter form of apparatus dispenses with the spring motor'and includes a cant like wheel 85 (see Figs. 10 to 13) which is mounted upon a shaft 86 and driven from the manually operated crank 45' through the instrumentality 'of a suitable gear tra1n'87.- The cam wheel 85 includes the laterally extending peripheral rim 88 which is provided with the single inwardly extending tooth 69 Mil.

. which co-acting with the discontinuous spac ing flange 90 is adapted to intermittently rotate the film advancing sprocket wheel 91..

The sprocket wheel 91 includes the shaft '92 upon which isflmounted the wheel 93 which is positioned eccentric with respect to the cam-like wheel 85 and carries the four outstanding cylindrical pins 94:. A. casing 88'- houses the wheels 85 -93, and is adapted to receive oil therein allowing the said wheels to run in an oil bath for their efficient rota" tion'. The pins or aresubstantially diameter to'j'the. spacing of the flange therebetween v the advancing sprocket for the film or picture strip will be held rigorously stationary. The discontinuous flange 90 has its opening symmetrical with respect to the single tooth 89 and so proportioned ously stationary of the cycle, This cyclic operation is illustrated in Figs. 11, 12 and 13, wherein the arrows denote relative rotation of the wheels and 93 and the cyclic manner in which the advancing sprocket wheel 91 is intermittently rotated with its period of rotation relatively small with respect to its period of rest, the same being proportional to the fractional part of a circumference as represented by the arcual extent of the tooth 89.

In this latter form the ratchet and pawl connection of the film advancing sprocket wheel 46 is omitted inasmuch as the spring motor is not present in this form the crank handle may be turned in either direction for the advancement of a film or for its rewinding.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I. claim is 1. An apparatus of the class described comprising a film supplying reel with a film thereon, a film take-up reel adapted to engage and wind the film thereon, means for unwinding the film from said supplying reel and advancing the same through the optical field of the apparatus, meansincluding a flexible element engaging the said film reels and Wound reversely thereon with respect to the film winding adapted to'rotate the take-up reel during the unwindin of a film from the film supplyin reel and rotating the film supplying reel or the rewinding of the film thereon, said flexible element being restricted to unidirectional equal in from thecam rim 88. so that when spaced mantle.

movement with fthe atpi ing l, and

adapted to be moped in the opposite direction;

2. An apparatus of theclass' -fdescribed comprising a film supplying reel, 9. flexible element receiving reel connected thereto and constricted to uni-directional rotation therewith and adapted to rotate freely in" if the opposite direction, a'film take-up real,

and a flexible elementsupplying reel'in err gagement therewith, and means for advancmg the film strip through theoptical field-' of the apparatus.

3. An apparatus of the class described in eluding an optical field, comprising a film supplying reel, a tape receiving reel, a

ratchet and pawl connection therebetween, a film take-up reel, a tape receiving reel connected thereto and constricted to rotate therewith, and means'adapted to intermittently advance a film field of said apparatus.

4. An apparatus of the class described thereon,

a ratchet and pawl connection through the optical comprising a film supplying reel and film therebetween, a film receiving reel, a tape j supplying reel connected thereto, means adapted to engage a film carried by saidfilm reels to propagate the same through the optical field of the apparatus, and resiliently mounted means engaging the film and tapeadapted to form slack loops therein.

5. An apparatus of the class described, I

comprising manually driven film engaging feed and take-up wheels, wheel adapted to draw thefilm through the optical field of the apparatus, a spring motor mechanically connected to saidfilm advancing wheel adapted to exert a continuous torsional force thereupon, an escape-' ment wheel mechanically connected to the film advancing wheel and provided. with a zig-zag slot therein, and a cam operated oscillating lever engaging said slot mechanically driven with saidfeed and take-up film wheels and adapted to intermittently release, for the intermittent rotation of, the said film advancing whee mg a crank actuated shaft, a pair of film a film advancing 6. A motion picture apparatus comprisfeeding and take-up film engaging wheels mechanically connected to and driven by said crank actuated shaft, spaced film engaging film guidin and film advancing wheels, an opt1cal field located therebetween, a rotatably mounted shaft, a film reel slidable and non-rotatably secured thereto, 'a

tape reel affixed to said shaft, a spring motor including a hollow shaft rotatably journaled upon the aforementioned shaft, a gear rotatably mounted upon said hollowshaft, a ratchetland pawl connection between said gear and said hollow shaft, me- V chanical means connecting the film engaging angmg'y'vheel end-sand sprmg motor, an rovlded 1n sa1dreleasemenb wheel for the 1 escapement wheel igmochanically connected Intermittent neleasement and fractional roitosa d; film advanoing wheel, a cam wheel. tation of said film advancing wheel. I

-to said feed and JAMES F. DAVIDSON.v yfbftpko-upfilm ,engagmg wheels,- and an oscil-- Witnesses f" I mun flows/60d am engaged and moved N. B. .FnmBnowN, Bald engaging a. zig-zag slot, ELLIS H. NICKEL-L, 

